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For he that doth look,
In the marry'd man’s book,
And reads but the items all over
Shall find them to come,
At length to a sum,
Shall empty purse, pocket, and coffer.
In the pastimes of love,
When their labours do prove,
And the kitchen beginneth to kick ;
For this and for that
And I know not for what,
The woman must have, or be sick,
There's items set down
For a loose-body gown,
in her longing you must not deceive her :
For a bodkin, a ring,
And the other fine thing,
For a cornet and lace to a beaver.
Deliver’d and well,
Who is it can tell?
But while the child’s at the nipple,
There’s item for wine,
’Mongst gossips so fine,
And sugar to sweeten the tipple.
I here’s item, I hope
For starch and for soap,
There's item for fire and for candle ;
For better, for worse,
There’s item for nurse,
by to dress and to dandle.
